Various types of "lifting" equipment are used to move large, heavy equipment. All present significant safety issues. Protect operators of equipment and all employees by knowing the regulations and posting signage.

1. © 2017 ComplianceSigns, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Compliance – Resource Bulletins are reference summaries of rules which govern the design of signs and related products. These bulletins are not legal advice,
and are not intended for use in legal proceedings or inspections. Please do your own research, and seek professional advice from your inspector, lawyer, or other
professional who is familiar with your specific situation on signage requirements, compliance or installation.
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Crane
Compliance – Resource Bulletin
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Crane Signs
Overview:
Both the manufacturing and construction industries find it necessary to move large, heavy loads in their daily
operations. The various types of “lifting” equipment used present significant safety issues to be considered, both
for the operators of the devices and for workers in proximity to them. [1]
These safety issues are addressed in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “Crane Rule”
which became effective on 11/8/2010. The Crane Rule regulations are found in the Code of Federal Regulations
CFR 1926, Subpart CC “Cranes & Derricks in Construction.”
Resources:
OSHA Crane Rule Regulations: (Free) http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standar
d_group?p_part_number=1926&p_toc_level=1
OSHA Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety: (Free) http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cranehoistsafety/index.html
ANSI/ASME B30 Construction Standards: ($$$) http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ASME+B30.+
Construction+Package
NCCCO Crane Safety Resources: (Free) http://www.nccco.org/OSHARuleResource.html
Design of Crane Signs:
• CRANE TYPES: OSHA defines a crane as any device that can hoist, lower and horizontally move a
suspended load. There are many types of equipment that fall under this definition. The specific safety
standards for each crane type were written by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
The full standard addresses the construction, installation, operation, inspection, maintenance, and safe
use of all crane types. (1926.1401) (ASME B30.1-29)
COMMON CRANE TYPES
o Tower Cranes o Pedestal Cranes o Portal Cranes o Hoists
o Overhead Cranes o Derricks o Sideboom Cranes o Cableways
o Floating Cranes o Locomotive Cranes o Helicopter Cranes o Material Handlers
o Monorail Cranes o Container Cranes o Boom Cranes o Top Girder Cranes
• CRANE SIGNALS: Though most cranes are large pieces of equipment, they are operated by a single
person, the “operator.” Their size also means the operator is often at a great distance or visually blocked
from the load he is moving. This makes a “signal person” a requirement for safe operation of a crane in
these situations. The signal person conveys to the operator how he should manipulate the load through
either hand, voice, or audible signals. Both the operator and signal person are required to be certified
under OSHA regulations. (1926.1419a) (1926.1427,1428)

2. © 2017 ComplianceSigns, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Compliance – Resource Bulletins are reference summaries of rules which govern the design of signs and related products. These bulletins are not legal advice,
and are not intended for use in legal proceedings or inspections. Please do your own research, and seek professional advice from your inspector, lawyer, or other
professional who is familiar with your specific situation on signage requirements, compliance or installation.
www.ComplianceSigns.com | PHONE: 1.800.578.1245 | FAX: 1.800.578.1246 | EMAIL: Sales@ComplianceSigns.com
Crane
Compliance – Resource Bulletin
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(Crane Signs Continued)
HAND SIGNAL CHARTS: When hand signals are used to direct the crane operator, OSHA requires that
the Standard Method be used. This method is a series of 19 hand signals, each of which describes an
action the operator is to take with the crane. OSHA requires that a hand signal chart for the particular
crane in use be posted on the crane itself or conspicuously posted in the vicinity of the hoisting operation.
It is common for these charts to be customized for a specific crane since not all cranes are capable of the
same operations. (1926.Appendix A) (1926.1422) (see graphic aid 1 below)
• HAND SIGNAL TRAINING AIDS: Both the crane operator and signal person must be certified in order to
use a particular crane. Training for certification is rigorous given the large number of crane types and their
corresponding signal menus. Training aids in the form of posters, flip cards and wallet cards depicting the
signals and their meaning are a useful reference for crane employees before and after certification.
(see graphic aid 1 below)
Graphic Aid 1:

3. © 2017 ComplianceSigns, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Compliance – Resource Bulletins are reference summaries of rules which govern the design of signs and related products. These bulletins are not legal advice,
and are not intended for use in legal proceedings or inspections. Please do your own research, and seek professional advice from your inspector, lawyer, or other
professional who is familiar with your specific situation on signage requirements, compliance or installation.
www.ComplianceSigns.com | PHONE: 1.800.578.1245 | FAX: 1.800.578.1246 | EMAIL: Sales@ComplianceSigns.com
Crane
Compliance – Resource Bulletin
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(Crane Signs Continued)
• OSHA/ANSI CRANE SAFETY SIGNS: Though not required by regulation, it is common to see OSHA or
ANSI formatted safety signs in the workplace or at the construction site providing employees with hazard
information pertaining to cranes. ANSI & OSHA both define sign elements for their versions of safety
signs, but their differences are so minor that the two standards are both widely used for hazard
notification. These signs contain the following elements:
o HEADER: Located at the top of the sign and containing a signal word and sometimes a warning
symbol. There are various signal words and associated colors, each of which indicates the
severity of the safety hazard.
o SAFETY SYMBOL: Located below the header, there may be a graphic representation of the
specific hazard being indicated by the sign. Not all signs contain a safety symbol.
o SAFETY MESSAGE: Located below the header is a text message indicating the nature of the
hazard and sometimes the action to be taken to avoid the hazard. (see graphic aid 2 below)
Graphic Aid 2:
For Crane signs & labels please visit our store: http://www.compliancesigns.com
[1] OSHA Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safetyt